Paper-feeding machine.



No 836,164. I PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

G.-R. WILLIAMS. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED novizo, 1906.

e. R. WILLIAMS.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 28, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATELITED NOV. 20, 1906.

4 G. R. WILLIAMS.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED we. 23 v 190's.-

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

Xy/LW THl NDRRII PETERS 50-. wlsnmarou, a. c.

cm 0 9 1 0 0 N D E T N E T A P S M. A I L L I R G A 6 H 6 3 m PAPERFEEDING MACHINE.

A'PPLIOATION FILED AUG. 28. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4-v 1H: Noam: PETERS cm. wAsHmMnu, D. c.

TOD/Z], it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. WILLIAMS,

f ,UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE. GEORGE R. WILLIAMS. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR To E. o. FULLER COMPANY, on NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20,190

Application filed August 28,1905.' Serial No. 276,044.

i a citizen of the United States, residing at New "York, county ofKings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Paper-Feeding Ma chines, fully described and representedin the following specification and the accompanying.

drawings ,forming a part of the same. Thls invention relates to certalnimprovemerits in sheet-feeding mechanism of the character employed infeeding. and register .inga plurality of sheets which are advanced sideby side.

, Two-sheet-feeding mechanisms have hereftofore been employed in whichthe two sheets i were brought into register by first separating thesheets by moving them, outward and then moving them inwardagainst guidesor stops'which acted upon inner edges of the sheets, While-the machinesreferred to are satisfactory for certainclasses. of work, they are notefficient for certain other classesas,

forinstance, work of the character known as workand turnthat is,forfeeding sheets which are first printed on one side and then i turnedover and printed or perfected on the A opposite side-the impressionsfrom the forms r on one side of the sheet lying directly opposite to orbacking up the'impressions of the forms printing onthe other side of thesheet, the forms which produce the backing-up impression being arrangedonthe same side of the machine as the forms which produce the firstimpression.

Pressmen 1n impressions of the forms the proper distance a from the headand one sideedge of the sheets,

and in successive printings theseguides must always coeperate with thehead and the same side edge, for if notthe impression 'on one side ofthesheet maynot be exactly opposite theimpression on the other side and themargins inaynot be alike.

a. In the two-sheet-feeding ma chines before referred to such machinesbeing well illustrated in l' atent No. 714,847, granted December '2,

1902, the two sheets were registered by being first moved outward andthen inward against a feeding presses position their 1 front and sideedge guides so as to bring the.

and-turn work is to be printed, however, it

will be seen that in feeding two sheets in the throughthe feedingmechanism for the sec-' ond printing. Inasmuch, however, as the machinereferred to is only adapted to register by the inner edges, no matterWhether the sheets have been first printed or not, it could not beefficiently used for work-and-turn work, for the reason that themechanism for registering was not adaptedto operatefor the secondprinting on the same edge of the sheet that it operated on for the firstprinting.

It is one of the objects of this invention to produce an improvedfeeding mechanism for feeding ,a plurality of sheets side by side whichshall embody positioning devices which may operate to position sheetseither from the inner or the outer edge.

A further object of the invention is to im prove the details ofconstruction offeeding mechanisms of the character referred to.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to in view theinvention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts,improvements, and combinations, as 1 willbe hereinafter fully describedand then specifically pointed out.

. 5 Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illus trates in side elevationone embodiment of the improved feeding mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional viewon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, this figure illustrating more particularlythe, sheet-separating mechanism.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views illustratin the construction of thesheet-spreading mec anism and the front stop mechanism employed inconnection therewith. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view illustrating theconstruction of certain sheet-positioningdevices employed. Fig. 7 isaside elevationof the construction shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is anenlarged plan view of one of the positioning devices employed. Fig. 9 isa section en the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a section on the line 1111 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12is a section on the line 12 12 of Fig. 8, certain parts being removed.Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan view of the construction shown at theright-hand end of Fig. 6, the parts being in a different position. Fig.14 is a section on the line 14 14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a section onthe line 15 15 of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a section on the line 16 16 ofFig. 13. Fig. 17 isyan enlarged side elevation of one of the innersheet-positioning devices shown at the extreme left in Fig. 2. Fig. 18is a section on the line 18 18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a detail sectionalview illustrating the construction of the guide and certain devicesconnected therewith, which are shown at the extreme left of Fig. 2.

The feeding mechanism which forms the subject of the present inventionis designed to be used in connection with automatic devices forloosening and removing sheets from piles, these devices including, as iswell known, buckling devices and sheetpushers. These devices, however,form no part of the present invention and are not illustrated.v

In the particular construction selected to illustrate the inventionparts of the side frames which sustain the sheet loosening and pushingdevices are indicated at 1, the sheets being advanced by these devicesto a pair of forwarding-rolls, one of which is'indicated at 2, theserolls being journaled in the frames 1. From these rolls the sheets areforwarded in the particular mechanism shown in the manner to behereinafter described to the printing mechanism, the cylinder of anordinary flat-bed printing machine being indicated at 3. In theparticular construction selected to illustrate the invention twosidebars are employed, these bars being marked 4 and be ing pivoted at 5to arms or extensions 6,which extend forward from the side frames 1. Theextensions 6 may be provided with standards or feet 7, which rest uponthe feed-board of the machine, which is indicated at 8. The pivoting of'the frames 4 in the manner described enables the apparatus to be swungup out of the way when desired. The forward ends of these bars 4 carrycastings 9, which may also be supplied with'feet 10, these feet restingon the feed-board.

The sheets are forwarded in the particular construction illustrated bytapes which pass around the roll 2, one .of these tapes being indicatedat 11 in Fig. 1. The upper runs of the tapes pass over rolls12 13, asusual in such construction, these rolls being idle rolls and beingjournaled in bearings 14, supported on the bars 4. I runs of the tapespass around a roll 15, journaled in the castings 9. From this roll thetapes run back to the roll 2, a suitable idle roll or rolls beingemployed in connection with the under run of the tapes, if necessary.One ofthese idle rolls is illustrated at 16. Tapes such as have beendescribed are ordinarily employed in feeding mechanism of the characterto which the invention relates and From the roll 13 the upper form aneflicient sheet-forwarding means.

Other suitable means may, however, be employed instead of them, ifdesired.

Constructions embodying the invention are designed to be used inconnection with sheet-feeders which forward a plurality of sheets sideby sidethat is to say, feeding mechanisms in which a plurality of sheetsare simultaneously removed from adjacent piles, the sheets-beingforwarded side by side by the forwarding mechanism to theprintingmachine.

In the best constructions embodying the invention and in order-to insureaccurate register the sheets as they pass along the forwarding mechanismwill first be subjected to the operation of sheet-spreading devices, thepurpose of which is to separate or space apart the two sheets. Whilethis sheetspreading mechanism may be varied in its construction, in theparticular machine shown two rods 17 18 are provided, each of these rodsbeing provided with a member or mmbers which operate on the edges of thesheets to se arate them. As shown, the rod 17 is provi ed with two suchmembers, these members being marked 19 and 20. In the construction shownthe member 19 is formed integrally with the rod and the member 20 isadjustable on the rod by means of a collar and set-screw, (indicated at21.) Similarly the rod 18 is 23, the mem er 22 being integral with therod and the member 23 being adjustably mounted thereon by. means of acollar and set-screw, (indicated at 24.)

The means employed for supporting and operating the sheet-separatingmeans will, of course, vary with the particular construction of membersemployed. In the particular construction shown the rod 17 is supportedat one end by a pin 25, this pin being mounted in an arm 25, carried ona collar 26, which is in turn supported by a rod 27. The end of thearm25 opposite that which carries the rod may be extended, as shown, andbear against a shaft 28, which will be hereinafter referred to, the endof the arm being formed with a half-round 29, which serves as a guide.The rod 27 and the shaft 28 are carried in brackets 30, these bracketsbeing sup orted on the side bars 4. The other end of t e rod 17 is inthe particular construction shown supported by causing it to passloosely through an eye in a bracket 31, extending upward from one sidebar '4. The rod 18 is rovided with two members 22.

in the particular construction shown supported in a manner similar tothat in which the rod 17 is supportedthat is to say, one end of the rodis carried by a pin 32, mounted on an arm 32, fast on a collar 33, thiscollar being supported on the rod 27, and the extension of the-arm 32 isformed with a halfround 34, whichbears against the shaft 28. The otherend of the rod 18 passes through an 1 eye ina. bracket 35, extendingupward from the other side bar-4.

In the particular construction shown the spreading members arepositively moved in one direction, and, as shown, two rods 36 areemployed for this purpose, one of these rods support guide-postscarrying wheels 39,

around which run chains 40, secured to connecting-rods 41, pivoted tolevers 42, which are mounted on a cross-rod 43, supported in sideframes 1. These levers 42 are cam-levers and are actuated by means ofearns 44, mounted on a cam-shaft 45, journaled in the frames 1 anddriven by suitable gearing, part of which is indicated in Fig. 2. Therods 36 carry collars 46, and between these collars and the cars 37 arelocated s rings 47. It is to be understood that by t is construction thecollars 26 33 and the levers 32 are given a reciprocating movement, thismovement moving the rods 17 18 sidewise, actuating the'spreading membersand spreading the sheets. s

As any two sheets are forwarded by the tapes, it will be observed thatone sheet will pass between the members 20 and 22 of the spreader andthe'other sheet will pass between the members 19 and 23. These sets ofmembersnamely, 19 23 and 20 22operate together to position the sheets,the members 19 22 ordinarily first striking the sheets and pushing themaway from the center of the sheet-path and the members 28 23 preventingthe sheets from being thrown too far by the members 19 22 or returningthem if they are thrown too far.

Sheet-spreaders have been heretofore employed consisting of a pair ofmembers which operated to-shift the sheets in their passage through themachine. These spreaders, however, comprised pivoted members, andtherefore when operated necessarily moved in the arcs of circles; Thesespreaders have a tendency to swing or twist sheets slightly,

making the subsequent registering operations more difficult. Thespreaders which havebeen illustrated and described are advantageous ascompared with such a eon twist the sheets. Further, these spreaders makeit possible to vary the travel of the sheets with respect to the-centerof the sheetpath-way. Thus by disconnecting either the rod 1.7 or therod 18 from the operating mechanism, which can be readily done, bothsheets can be shifted sidewise with respect to the central line dividingthe sheet-pathway.

Further, the members 20 and 23 may be dis slides on each side of themachine.

connected from the rods 17 and 18, if desired, and both sheets can beshifted sidewise away from the central line dividing the sheet-path- Inthe best constructions the sheets when being acted upon by the spreadingmembers will rest againstfront stops. These front stops are or may beconstructed as is usual. 1 As shown, these front stops embody underguides 48, which are supported by a crossrod 49, in turn supported bythe standards Which form part of the brackets 30. These under guides arelocated just below the tapes. Above these under guides are located upperguides 50, carried by pins 51, mounted on the supports 52, secured tothe rod.27. (See Fig. 4.) The outer ends of these upper guides are shownas recessed, and

through these recesses work stops 53, which are carried by supports 54,fast on the shaft 28. The shaft 28 is a rock-shaft and is operated froma connecting-rod 55, which is secured to anarm 56, fast on the shaft,and to a cam-lever 57, pivoted on the rod 43. This cam-lever 57 isoperated from a cam 58 on the shaft 45, before referred to. In theoperation of the mechanism the sheets will be. forwarded until theystrike the front stops 53, after which the spreading devices operate.The stops are then rocked upward to permit the sheets to be forwarded bythe tapes.

After the sheets have been operated upon by the spreading devices,assuming that suchspreading devices are employed, they pass onwardwithin the range of action ofsheetpositioning devices. Thesesheet-positioning devices may be variously constructed and may beoperated in various ways. Furthermore, the number of-these positioningdevices employed to act on each sheet may be varied. In the particularconstruction shown, however, two pairs of these positioning devices willbe provided for each sheet.

In the particular construction shown (see 1 Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 13) therods 4 carry castings 59, these castings being formed to provide collars60, which embrace the rods, so that the castings are adjustable thereon,the castings being held in position by means of set. screws orin anyother suitable manner. These castings serve to support ways 61, whichextend across the machine, these ways forming a guide. The castings arealso formed to provide pairs of short guides consisting of ribs 62,which support operating blocks or slides 63, which will be hereinafterreferred to, there being one of these block i fir 6. ways 61 supportplates 64, there being one of these plates on each side of the machine.

These plates 64 may be adjusted to any desired position in the machineand when so adjusted may be held in position by clampscrews 65, thesescrews passing through the and 15.)

plates 64, taking under ribs on the ways 61 and being held in positionby wing-nuts 66. These plates 64 are formed to. provide ways 67, and inthese ways are mounted slides 68, the slides being held in the ways bymeans of tension-springs 69, as illustrated in Fig. 16. The slides 68support hollow standards 7 0, (see Figs. 2, 13, and 15,) which surroundsleeves 71, screwed into the slides 68, the standards being held firmlyin position by nuts 72 engaging long bolts 73, which pass.

through the sleeves 71, these bolts being tapped at their lower endsinto collars 74, which surround rods 76. The plates 64 are secured tothe collars 74 by tongues 75, which depend from the plates and engagereduced portions of the collars. (See Figs. 10

The rods 76 pass into and are secured to ears 77 on the slides 63. Theinterior construction of the standards 70 and the means by which thesides are secured to the rods 76 are similar to the constructionillustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, these figures, however, illustratingcertain of the other positioning devices which have not yet beendescribed.

The standards 70 su port guards 7 8, (see Figs. 6, 7, and 15,) theunction of which is to prevent the ends or edges of the sheets fromcurling up and to insure that the sheets are acted upon by the deviceswhich will be described. These guards 78 are so located with respect tothe slides 68 as to leave narrow openings 79, (see Fig. 7,) into whichthe edges of the sheets to be positioned enter. These openings withrespect to the particular positioning devices now being described faceinwardlythat is, toward the center of the sheetpathand therefore serveto receive the outside edges of the two sheets being advanced along thesheet-path. The

standards 70 also support swinging fingers 80,

which are fast on short rock-shafts 81, j ournaled in the standards.(See Fig. 15.) These shafts also carry (see Figs. 7 and 15) arms 82, onwhich are mounted balance-nuts 83, which are so adjusted as to make itpossible for the fingers 80 to be displaced by the resistance of thesheets if the movement of the sheets is obstructed. The lower ends ofthese fingers 80 lie just behind the openings 79, into which, as hasbeen described, the

edges of the sheets enter.

The positioning devices so far described are the exterior positioningdevices which the sheets first meet in their travel toward the pressthatis, these positioning devices operate upon the exterior edges of the twosheets traveling down the sheet-path. 00- operating with these twoexterior positioning devices are two interior positioning devices.-

(See Figs. 2 and 6 to 10.) The right-hand one (see Fig. 6) of theseinterior devices is mounted on a slide 84,which moves in the ways 61,and the left-hand one is mounted on a in the same manner that they do inconnection with the exterior positioning devices so far described. Theguard 78, which coperates with the slide 84, is arranged so that theopening 79 faces toward the ri ht-hand exterior positioning device, andt e guard 78, which cooperates with the slide 85, is arranged so thatthe opening 79 faces toward the left-hand exterior positioning device.

It has been heretofore stated that each of the slides 63 has a rod 76secured to it. The rod 76, extending inwardly from the righthand slide,extends under the interior positioning devices and is secured to aspring 86, the end of this spring being secured to a pin 87 on one ofthe ways 61.. Similarly the rod 76, which extends inwardly from thelefthand slide 63, passes under the interior positioning devices and issecured to a similar spring 86, this spring being also secured to a pin87 on the 0therway61. While the mechanism for moving these positioningdevices may be widely varied, in the particular construction shown theslides 63 are included in this mechanism. These slides 63 are eachprovided with pins 88, to which are connected chains 89, these'chainsrunning around wheels 89, connected to rods 90, (see Fig. 1,) which runalong the outside of the bars 4, the connection being effected by meansof adjustable collars 91. The rods 90 are fast to arms 92 on shortrock-shafts 93, these shafts being journaled in brackets which form apart of the standards 7. These rock-shafts 93 have operating-arms 94,which are connected by links 95 to cam-levers 96, pivoted on the shaft43, before referred to, and operated by cams 97 on the cam-shaft 45. Bythis construction the rods 76 are moved in one direction by the cams andconnections described and in the opposite direction by the sprin s.

The bo ts 73 of the several positioning devices may be operated so as toeither lock or release these positioning devices from the rods. When thesheets are being registered by their interior edges, the right and lefthand exterior positioning devices will be secured to the operating-rods76 and the interior positioning devices will be disconnected from therods and held stationary. When the construction is operating in thismanner, the sheets will be pushed by the exterior guides inward againstthe interior guides, these operating simply as stops. When it is desiredto register the sheets by the outer edges, the interior positioningdevices will be made, fast to the rods 76 and the exterior positioningdevices will be held stationary and act simply as stops.

hand interior positioning device may be held stationary and theleft-hand exterior positioning device secured to its operating-rod. Withthis arrangement the left-hand sheet will be pushed by the left-handexterior positioning device against the left-hand interior positioningdevice, which will act as a stop. The right-hand sheet will be pushed bythe right-hand interior positioning device against the right-handexterior positioning device, acting as a stop. With this arrangement theleft-hand sheet will be registered byxits inner edge and the right-handsheet will be registreed by its outer edge.

Any suitable construction may be em ployed for holding the severalpositioning devices stationary when desired. In the particularconstruction shown each of the inteset-screws .103.

j f rior positioning devieesis provided with a bracket-arm 98, extendingfrom a plate 99, which is secured to the under side of the slides 84 85,as shown in Fig. 9, by means of abolt 100 or in any other suitablemanner. The plate 99 in this construction is also utilized to hold theslides 84 85 in position on the ways 61. Thearms 98 have perforationsthrough them, and through these perforations pass rods 101, these rodsbeing supported in brackets 102, secured to the ways 61. The arms 98 maybe secured to the rods 101 in any suitable manneras, for instance, by

In order to provide for accurate adjustment of the interior devices, theouter ends of each of the rods 101may be threaded and a nut 104 maybeused to adjust the rod, this nut lying, as shown, be-

tween two parts of the bracket 102, and therefore held stationary, sothat when it is turned the rod will be moved in one direction or theother. Jam-nuts 105 may be provided to hold the rods in adjustedposition.

In order to hold the exterior positioning (lGVlCBSStELtlOIlELI'Y whendesired, two latches 106 are employed, in the particular constructionillustrated these latches being pivoted on the plates 64 and taking overkeepers 107,

fast on the slides 68. In the particular construction lllustrated theends of these latches when they are in operative position lie behind areheld stationary, swinging plates 108 are provided, these plates beingmounted on the threaded sleeves 71 and held in position by the nuts 72.The hubs of the balance-arms 82 are squared, as indicated in Fig. 7 andbetter shown in the enlarged view, Fig. 17, and

when the plates are swung around over them I the fingers 80 are lockedagainst movement, as will be readily understood.

If'desired, a sheet-guard consisting of an angle-plate 109 may besecured to the upper way 61 to prevent the front ends of the sheets fromstriking against the side of the way.

While in some instances a single pair of positioning devices for eachsheet may be employed, 1n the best constructions two pairs of suchdevices will be employed for each sheet,

and such constructions are illustrated in the construction illustrated,the castings 9 support a guard-plate 110. (See Figs. 2 and 18.) Thisguard-plate supports away or guide 1 11, there being a cooperating wayor guide 112, which is supported by the castings 9. Slideblocks 113 areemployed, these blocks being generally similar to the slide 63, beforedescribed, although being somewhat different in outline. Theseslide-blocks are connected by chains 1 14 to the rods 90, beforedescribed, and they have extending from them rods 76, connected tosprings 86, this construction being similar to the construction alreadydescribed. The exterior positioning devices are mounted on slides 68 andmay be in construction and operation precisely similar to the exteriorpositioning devices heretofore dGSCI'IbGd. The interior positioningdevices are mounted on slides 115, which while they operate like theslides 84 are somewhat different in con figuration. These "slides arewell shown in Fig. 18, from which it appears that the guide into arecess 116 on the under side of the slides 115. Secured to theseslidesare. perforated blocks 117, which effect the same function as the arms98 in the constructlon before describedthat is,-they connect the slidesto adjusting-rods 118. These adjusting-rods are connected by cross-bars119t o micrometer-screw adjusting devices 1.20, simi lar in operation tothe devices before de scribed, although. the brackets 121 are slightlydifferent in form from the brackets 102. 1 a

The interior and exterior positioning. devices are the same inconstruction and-operatron as those which have beenpreviously describedand can be connected to and disconnected from the operating mechanisminthe same manner, so as to act either as pushers or stops, as the casemay be.

1 In order to bridge the space between the guides or rails which carrythe lower set of adjusting devices, under guides 122 are employed, thesebeing fingers of spring metal. of usual construction. These guides areshown as mounted on sliding blocks 123, which engage in ways in theguides 111, tensionsprings 124 being employed to keep the blocks 123snug in the ways. These fingers form no part of the invention, and anyother suitable construction may be substituted therefor. The fingers 122cooperate with front stops 125 of a construction commonly used inconnection with flat-bed printing-machines.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which theinvention is carried into effect. The invention is not, therefore, to belimited to the specific construction hereinbefore described, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is 1. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination withmeans for forwarding two sheets side by side, of means for bringing thesheets into feeding register, said means including devices for shiftingthe sheets sidewise, and means whereby said devices may be causedtooperate to shift each sheet inwardly or outwardly.

2. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of sheet-spreading devices, meansfor bringing the sheets into feeding register, said means includingdevices for shifting the sheets sidewise, and means whereby said devicesmay be caused to operate to shift each sheet inwardly or outwardly.

3. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the com bination with means for'forwarding two sheets side'by side, of means for bringing the sheetsinto feeding register, said means including positioning devices whichoperate on the sides of the sheets, and means whereby said devices arecaused to operate either as sheet shifters or stops.

4. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of sheet-spreading devices, meansfor bringing the sheets into feeding register, said means includingpositioning devices which operate on the sides of the sheets, and meanswhereby said devices are caused to operate either as sheet shifters orstops.

5. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of interior positioning devices foreach sheet, exterior positioning devices for each sheet, and meanswhereby either the interior or the exterior positioning devices may becaused to shift the sheets sidewise.

6. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of interior positioning devices foreach sheet, exterior positioning deor the exterior positioning devicesmay be caused to shift the sheets sidewise.

8. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the conibination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of sheet-spreading devices, interiorpositioning devices for each sheet, exterior positioning devices foreach sheet, and means whereby the exterior positioning devices may becaused to shift the sheets sidewise and the interior positioning devicesmay be caused to act as stops, or the interior positioning devices maybe caused to shift the sheets sidewise and the exterior devices may becaused to act as stops.

9. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of two interior positioning devicesfor each sheet, two exterior positioning devices for each sheet, andmeans whereby either the interior or the exterior devices may be given asidewise movement to shift the sheets.

10. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of sheetspreading devices, twointerior positioning devices for each sheet, two exterior positioningdevices for each sheet, and means whereby either the interior or theexterior devices may be given a sidewise movement to shift the sheets.

11. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of two interior positioning devicesfor each sheet, twoexterior positioning devices for each sheet, meanswhereby either the two interior or the two exterior devices may be givena sidewise movement to shift the sheet, and means for holding thedevices not moved stationary to act as stops.

12. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of sheet-spreading de vices, twointerior positioning devices for each sheet, two exterior positioningdevices for each sheet, means whereby either the two interior or the twoexterior devices may be given a sidewise movement to shift the sheet,and means for holding the devices not moved stationary to actas stops.

13. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding sheets side by side, of front stops, sheet- Spreaders, meansfor giving the Spreaders a in right-line movement at right anglesto thepath of travel of the sheets and registering means operating on thesheets acted upon by the spreaders.

14. In a; sheet-feeding mechanism, the

combination with means for forwarding two sheets side by side, offrontstops, and a sheet-spreader comprising a set of members operatingon'the outerand inner edges of one sheet and a set of members operatingon the outer and inner edges of the other sheet.

15. In :a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of front stops, a sheetspreadercomprising a set of members operating on the outer and inneredges of onesheet and a set of members operating on the outer and inner edges of theother sheet,and means for adjusting one member of each set.

16. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of front stops, a sheetspreadercomprising a set of. members operating on the outer and inner edges ofone sheet and a set of members operating on the outer and inner edges ofthe other sheet, and means for adjusting the members which operate onthe outer edges of'the sheets.

17. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of front stops, a sheetspreaderincluding members operating on the inner edges of the sheets, and meansfor giving said members aright-line movement at right angles to thepaths of movements of the sheets;

18. In. a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of front stops, a sheet spreaderincludingmembers operating on the outer edges of the sheets, and meansfor giving said members a right-line movement at right angles to thepathway of the sheets.

19. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the

combination with a plurality of outer-sheet shifting devices, of aplurality of inner-sheetshifting devices, operating mechanism, and

combination with means for forwarding two sheets side by side, of a pairof sheet-shifting devices, one member of the pair being locatedalongside the path of the inner edge of one sheet and the other memberof the pair being located alongside the path of the outer edge of saidsheet, a second pair of sheetshifting devices, one member of said pairbeing located alongside the path of the inner edge of the other sheetand the other member of the pair being located alongside the path of theouter edge of said other sheet, an operating mechanism, and meansforconnecting.

vices to the operating mechanism.

21. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of a pair of sheet-shifting devices,one member of the pair being located alongside the path of the inneredge of one sheet and the other member of the pair being locatedalongside the path ofthe outer edge of said sheet, a second pair ofsheet-shifting devices, one member of said pair being located alongsidethe path of, the inner edge of the other sheet and the other member ofthe pair being located alongside the path of the outer edge of saidother sheet, an operating mechanism, means for connecting a member ofeach pair to the operating mechanism, and means for holding the othermember of each. pair stationary whereby said members may act as stops. 1

' 22. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of guiding means angularly disposedwith relation to the sheet-p ath,

.a pair of sheet-shifting devices mounted in said guiding means, onemember of said pair lying alongside the path of the inner and the othermember of the pair lying alongside the pair of sheet-shifting devicesmounted in said guiding means, one member of said pair lyingalongsidethe path of the inner and the other member of said pair lyingalongside the path of the outer edge of the other sheet, and means forgiving a member of each pair a sidewise movement to shift the sheets.

23. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of guiding means angularly disposedwith relation to the sheet-path, a pair of sheet-shifting devicesmounted in said guiding means, one member of said pair lying alongsidethe path of the inner and the other member of the pair lying alongsidethe path of the outer edge of one sheet, a second pair of sheet-shiftingdevices mounted in said guiding means, one member of said pair lyingalongside the path of the inner and the other member of said pair lyingalongside the path of the outer edge of the other sheet, means forgiving a member of each pair a sidewise path of the outer edge of onesheet, a second movement to shift the sheets, and means for" holding theother member of each pair stationary to act as sheet-stops.

24. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of a guide, a pair of positioningdevices mounted on the guide, one member of said pair lying alongsidethe path of the inner edge of one sheet and the other member lyingalongside the path of the outer edge of said sheet, a second pair ofpositioning devices mounted on the guide, one member of said pair lyingalongside the path of the inner edge and the other member lyingalongside the path of the outer edge of the other sheet, an operatingmechanism for moving the positioning devices along the guide, and meansfor connecting either the outer members of said pairs or the innermembers of said pairs to the operating mechanism.

25. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of a guide, a pair of positioningdevices mounted on the guide, one member of said pair lying alongsidethe path of the inner edge of one sheet and the other member lyingalongside the path of the outer ''edge of said sheet, a second pair ofpositioning devices mounted on the guide, one member of said pair lyingalongside the path of the inner edge and the other member lyingalongside the path of the outer edge of the other sheet, anoperatingmechanism vfor moving the positioning devices along the guide, means forconnecting either the outer members of said pairs or the inner membersof said pairs to the operating mechanism, and means for holding theother members of the pairs stationary to act as stops.

26. In a sheet-forwarding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of two inner-sheet pushers, twoouter-sheet pushers, an operating mechanism, and means for connectingeither the inner or outer pushers to the operating mechanism.

27. In a sheet-forwarding mechanism, the combination with means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of two inner-sheet pushers, twoouter-sheet pushers, an operating mechanism, means for connecting eitherthe inner or outer pushers to the operating mechanism, and means forholding the pushers not connected to the operating mechanism stationaryso as to cause them to act as sheetstops.

28. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combinationwith means forforwarding two sheets side by side, of two pairs of positioning devices,one member of each pair lying alongside the path of the outeredge of onesheet and the other member of each pair lying alongside the path of theinner edge of the same sheet, two other pairs of positioning devices,one member of each pair lying alongside the path of the inner edge ofthe other sheet and the othermember of each pair lying alongside thepath of the outer edge of said other sheet, an operating mechanism, andmeans for connecting either the outer or inner members of said pairs tothe operating sheets side by side, of two pairs of positioning devices,one member of each pa1r lying alongside the path of the outer edge ofone sheet and the other member of each pair lying alongside the pathof-the inner edge of the same sheet, two other pairs of positioningdevices, one member of each pair lying alongside the path of the inneredge of the other sheet and the other member of each pair lyingalongside the path of the outer edge of said other sheet, an operatingmechanism, means for connecting either the outer or inner members ofsaid pairs to the operating mechanism, and means for holding the othermembers of the pairs stationary to act as sheet-stops.

30. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the

combination with means for forwarding two sheets side by side, of twopairs of pushers, one pusher of each pair lying alongside the path ofthe outer edge of a sheet and the other pusher of each pair lyingalongside the path of the inner edge of said sheet, two other pairs ofpushers, one pusher of each pair lying alongside the path of the inneredge of the other sheet and the other pusher of each air lying alongsidethe path of the outer edge of said sheet, operating means, and means forconnecting either the outer or the inner pushers to the operatingmechanism.

31. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the

combination with means for forwarding two sheets side by side, of twopairs ofpushers, one pusher of each pair lying alongside the path of theouter edge of a sheet and the other pusher of each pair lying alongsidethe path of the inner edge of said sheet, two other pairs of pushers,one pusher of each pair lying alongside the path of the inner edge ofthe other sheet and the other pusher of each pair lying alongside thepath of the outer edge of said sheet, operating means, means forconnecting either the outer or the inner pushers to the operatingmechanism, and means for holding the unconnected pushers stationary toserve as sheet-stops.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE R. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

PATRICK BRENNAN, FRANK E. BLACKBURN.

IIO

